Mozzarella is one America’s favorite cheeses, and no wonder. This creamy cheese, made from either cow’s milk or buffalo milk, is truly versatile. Its consistency and mild taste make it suitable for a seemingly infinite range of uses. Last, but not least, it’s a key ingredient of any pizza or lasagna. However, plain balls of mozzarella leave you plenty of room for experimenting, as the following four party food recipes show.
Mozzarella Party Appetizers
Four creative and delicious ways to use mozzarella balls for party appetizers.
Ingredients
- 1 peeled carrot
- black, pitted olives
- mini mozzarella balls
- ham (e.g. prosciutto)
- cherry tomatoes
- mayonnaise
- fresh arugula as decoration
- fresh basil leaves
- flour
- paprika
- beaten egg
- breadcrumbs
- oil for frying
Instructions
- 1. Cut the carrot into fine slices. Next, cut a segment from a slice. Place this in the opening of a pitted olive, so that the pointed end sticks out.2. Stick a toothpick laterally through the middle of the olive. It should end up roughly halfway along the piece of wood.3. Halve an olive lengthways. Then cut away (also lengthways) a third of each half. Slide the two small pieces onto the toothpick, so they end up close under the olive with the carrot segment.4. Under these "penguin wings," slide on a ball of mozzarella for the penguin's body and then the carrot slice with the segment cut out of it for the feet. Make sure they are facing the same way as the beak.5. Cut off a strip from a slice of ham and place it around the neck of your cheese and olive penguin like a scarf, between the "head" with the carrot segment and the "wings."
- 1. Halve a cherry tomato. Then stick one half on top of a ball of mozzarella.2. Add dots of mayonnaise in an even spread over the "mushroom cap."3. Arrange your mushrooms on a bed of arugula.
- 1. Cut off the top off a tomato and hollow out the inside with a teaspoon.2. Put a mozzarella ball in the hollowed fruit and then stick them both on a kebab skewer. But don't push it all the way through, you don't want it sticking out the other side.3. Hang a basil leaf over the outside of the tomato. Attach it by sticking the stem between the cheese and the tomato.4. Arrange your bouquet in a tall glass.
- 1. Thoroughly mix the flour and the paprika in a bowl. Put the egg and the breadcrumbs in two other bowls.2. For the breadcrumb coating: roll a mozzarella ball first in the flour, then in the egg and finally in the breadcrumbs, until it's completely covered.3. Fry the balls for 7 minutes in hot oil at 360°F. Serve with a savory salsa as a dip.
VIDEO
These finger foods are just a small suggestion for what you can create in your kitchen with mini mozzarella balls. Hopefully they’ll inspire you to come up with your appetizer recipes — these cheese balls are so versatile!